The report identifies her as the first reigning queen to pilot a fighter jet solo. King Maha Vajiralongkorn, also known as Rama X, watched the flight from the ground.
After she landed, the king presented her with flowers and pinned on her a Gripen Order Golden Patch badge embroidered with gold thread. The aircraft carried special tail artwork marking 15 years of Gripen service in Thailand in 2026.
Preparation for the flight
The queen’s training followed Royal Thai Air Force standards and included preparatory flights in the Pilatus PC-9 turboprop and L-39 Albatros jet trainer. She also trained in a Gripen simulator and flew 10 hours with an instructor in the two-seat JAS-39D.
Queen Suthida has logged more than 1,188 flying hours across various aircraft types. She holds qualifications for several light and commercial aircraft, including the Boeing 737-400 and 737-800.
She has repeatedly served as co-pilot on those airliners during state visits. The Gripen flight added a solo fighter sortie to that experience.
Thailand purchased 12 Gripen C/D fighters from Sweden. The aircraft were used in combat during the border conflict with Cambodia in July and December 2025.
